Human rights: Amnesty calls for EU action

Amnesty International has urged the Government to push for Roma and Traveller rights and to seek to combat violence against women during its EU presidency.

Ireland should lead other EU member states to step up efforts on discrimination against Roma and Travellers and “to address discriminatory rhetoric by public officials”, the group stated in recommendations given to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore yesterday.

Amnesty called on the EU to deliver a promised strategy on violence against women. It said Ireland should join other European countries in signing a Council of Europe Convention on Violence against Women.

“There is a real opportunity here for the Irish Government to stand up for Europe’s women,” Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, said.

Ireland should also help restart negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty which would set down rules for the international trade of conventional weapons, Amnesty said.